Anyone who witnessed this year's Super Bowl witnessed a work of art, an aesthetic masterpiece that all football fans can treasure. And I can say this objectively as I am neither a fan of the Cardinals nor the Steelers.
It began with a beautiful Pittsburgh drive. Parker, Ward, Parker, Parker, Miller. It seemed as though the pundits would be right about the Cardinals' demise. And about the Steelers' domination through a pounding running game and Big Ben's timely throws. As I watched, I wondered if the Cardinals had any chance whatsoever.
Until the Cardinals were able to accomplish a feat I thought only their opposition could, i.e. a goal line stand. With the help of a good challenge. A Pittsburgh field goal ensued, and the game stood at 3-0.
The Cardinals came onto the field and looked a bit lost. Unable to get anything going. It was all Steelers. A punt followed.
Pittsburgh got the ball back and staged another long drive. Early in the second, it was 10-0. And people were wondering if the commercials were going to get any better.
But a good story line usually begins with the predictable. Thus was the first quarter written.
Arizona then decided to throw the consummate curve ball by doing what I can imagine every Cardinals fan thought they should do. They put Warner all alone in the backfield and let him start throwing the altogether effective short passes. With his quick delivery, he picked apart the number one defense on this drive giving the story some obvious foreshadowing. And what better way to end the drive than with a touchdown to a Mr. Ben Patrick who can claim that his first touchdown pass of the year was in the Super Bowl.
Pittsburgh came up short the next series. And then so did the Cardinals. Would it become a defensive struggle? If so, I couldn't see the Cardinals outlasting the Steelers.
Then, there came a twist of fate. The unexpected. Big Ben threw the first interception of the game giving the Cardinals amazingly good field position. Warner passed them down the field and got the Cards to the one yard line.
Then, all hell broke loose. Harrison intercepted Warner and took the ball through the entire state of Arizona, finally stumbling through Breaston and Fitzgerald for the longest play in Super Bowl history. 100 yards.
End Act I. Stunning. The mighty Steelers looked as though they had completely deflated the Cardinals. How could the red birds recover?
Act II began after an aged Bruce slid crotch first into the camera. Not the closeup in which I had an interest. The Cardinals took possession and did nothing with it. Time was slipping away.
Pittsburgh then staged a eight minute long drive that seemed to spell the end for the upstart Cardinals. 'At least they got there' I heard those around me say. 'Everyone knew Pittsburgh would win'. And so, it was.
Except that Arizona did the unthinkable, again. Against the Steelers. Another goal line stand. How? And yet, what was the point? Even with just a field goal, it was 20-7. And time was not an Arizona ally.
The next stalled drive didn't help them either. It was the fourth quarter.
Pittsburgh stalled too. A rare three and out.
And then, it happened. A phenomenon that caused every Steelers fan in the world to worry and every football fan to begin paying attention again. Breaston, Urban, Fitzgerald, Arrington, Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald, Hightower, Fitzgerald. 8 for 8 and 87 yards later, Warner had lead the Cardinals in a perfect drive to a Fitzgerald touchdown. Fitzgerald, who had 1 catch for 12 yards in the first half suddenly found the openings in the Pittsburgh D. And remember that this wasn't just any defense. This was the number 1 defense in the league. And Warner picked them apart as if they were the Lions.
The Arizona D stopped Pittsburgh. Another rare three and out.
An Arizona series that looked as though it would continue Kurt's fantastic run saw three straight incomplete passes at the Pittsburgh 36. Too long for a field goal, they opted to punt. A beautiful punt that pinned Pittsburgh at the 1.
And Pittsburgh couldn't budge the Arizona D. In fact, they got moved backwards 1 yard for a safety. 20-16 Pittsburgh. Was this really happening?
Then, there came what might have been the play of the game, had the outcome been different. Kurt tossed one of his quick passes over the middle and into the hands of Larry Fitzgerald. And, boy did he run. He wasn't touched. 64 yards and the unthinkable had happened. The Arizona Cardinals lead the game 23-20 in one of the unlikeliest comebacks - and also the biggest - in Super Bowl history. The offensive juggernaut - with a lot of help from their own defensive force - had stepped right back into the game.
Yet, the storied franchise proved why it is storied. It was not their time to fold. It was not their time to hand the title to this destitute franchise. Instead, they worked down the field. And they, one of the scrappiest, grittiest teams displayed the absolute beauty of the sport as Big Ben threw a perfect ball to a barely open Santonio Holmes for the final touchdown. For a team that is known for its hard-nosed dominating smash mouth football, it took a page from Arizona's book and ended on one of the most gracefully beautiful passing plays I've ever witnessed in a football game.
Though the underdog would try once more to win the day, Arizona fell short with a well-timed strip of Warner. And the day went to the Steelers.
But honestly, this was a game of beauty. Told only as the most noteworthy of bards could tell.
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